Four charged in $1.85M scheme

TAMPA — The U.S. Attorney's office in Tampa charged four individuals in a mortgage fraud conspiracy case regarding $1.85 million in properties.

The indictment was unsealed yesterday by the U.S. Attorney's office of the Middle District. It charges Jesus Sira, 32, Nestor Urdaneta, 29, Maria Urdaneta, 32 and Vanessa Urdaneta, 28, each with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. The indictment includes eight other charges, according to a U.S. Attorney's office release. The release states Nestor and Vanessa Urdaneta, husband and wife, live in Tampa. So does Maria Urdaneta. Sira's location is unknown.

The U.S. Attorney's office contends the four conspirators entered into agreements to purchase properties for amounts in excess of the original asking price.